Panic Buying
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 782
At present Sydney is in a sort of lockdown - most people (not essential workers) only allowed to travel within their local government area, so not a lot of driving being done, and petrol prices were about $1.40/litre. As from Monday, we'll be able to travel anywhere in the greater Sydney area. One nearby servo has already put their fuel up to $1.80+.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Asia
Posts: 1,376
Due to differences in how the overall length of a truck is calculated, European lorries have far less space available for driver accommodation than their US counterparts. A British lorry would have little more than a bunk and a shelf available whereas an American one would easily have a kitchen and bathroom.
The driver facilities in a British lorry are really only suitable for emergency rather than normal use. Stuck in a queue or a breakdown for example.
The nightstop allowances are a joke, £35 if the truck lacks a bunk and £26 if it has one. Try finding a bed for the night for £35 let alone buy food as well, drivers aren't able to book weeks in advance to get the good rates so it's mostly last minute. £26 will barely cover dinner, breakfast and a takeaway lunch at transport cafe prices. Many trucks don't have a fridge or any cooking facilities so the opportunity to save money that way is limited.
Try getting your rest period in a layby starting at 6:00pm with all the traffic going by and then getting going in the small hours of the morning.
Dedicated rest stops are needed with individual portacabin style sleeping facilities. Toilets, showers and washing machines are also required together with a 24 hour canteen serving food at reasonable prices. If the overnight allowance has to go up to enable a driver to use these facilities then so be it.
The driver facilities in a British lorry are really only suitable for emergency rather than normal use. Stuck in a queue or a breakdown for example.
The nightstop allowances are a joke, £35 if the truck lacks a bunk and £26 if it has one. Try finding a bed for the night for £35 let alone buy food as well, drivers aren't able to book weeks in advance to get the good rates so it's mostly last minute. £26 will barely cover dinner, breakfast and a takeaway lunch at transport cafe prices. Many trucks don't have a fridge or any cooking facilities so the opportunity to save money that way is limited.
Try getting your rest period in a layby starting at 6:00pm with all the traffic going by and then getting going in the small hours of the morning.
Dedicated rest stops are needed with individual portacabin style sleeping facilities. Toilets, showers and washing machines are also required together with a 24 hour canteen serving food at reasonable prices. If the overnight allowance has to go up to enable a driver to use these facilities then so be it.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Age: 61
Posts: 966
I heard a mention (Paper industry spokesperson) on the Today program this morning that the UK toilet paper issue maybe coming around again due to costs going up for paper industry due to energy costs. Also someone on from ceramic industry on the same message re tiles, Bricks etc.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 621
Originally Posted by Mr Mac
I heard a mention (Paper industry spokesperson) on the Today program this morning that the UK toilet paper issue maybe coming around again due to costs going up for paper industry due to energy costs. Also someone on from ceramic industry on the same message re tiles, Bricks etc.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Terra Firma
Posts: 10
Originally Posted by Mr Mac
I heard a mention (Paper industry spokesperson) on the Today program this morning that the UK toilet paper issue maybe coming around again due to costs going up for paper industry due to energy costs. Also someone on from ceramic industry on the same message re tiles, Bricks etc.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
Rev
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 80
Originally Posted by TheReverend
Oh great! This'll be the same BBC that created the fuel-buying panic with their clickbait headlines.
Rev
Rev
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: England
Posts: 454
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 58
Posts: 9,833
Originally Posted by Sallyann1234
